A Century of Salt Marsh Migration in Long Island Sound

Investigator: 
Jamie O'Connell
Advisor: 
Shimi Anisfeld
Start Date: 
June, 2014
Description: 

Landward migration of salt marsh vegetation is an important survival mechanism for marshes at risk of drowning due to accelerated rates of sea level rise. However, little is known about the process of salt marsh migration, especially into upland habitats. This project will:

  1. quantify the rate of landward salt marsh migration in Long Island Sound over the past 100 years and
  2. examine the effect of upland habitat type (lawn versus forest) on migration rates.

To compliment my field work, I will use aerial photographs to learn about the study sites and potentially use remote sensing to quantify migration rates of salt marsh vegetation.